Spray grease gun



July 9, 1968 Filed Jan. 30, 1967 w. c. GREGORY 3,391,829

SPRAY GREASE GUN #Trae/V596.

United States Patent O 3,391,829 SiRAY GREASE GUN William C. Gregory, 52() N. Burris Ave., Compton. Calif. 90221 Filed Eau. 30, 1967, Ser. No. 612,605 5 Claims. (Cl. 222-95) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE` This apparatus includes a grease-holding vessel which has an outlet through which grease can be ejected and an air pressure responsive piston which forces grease from the vessel. Valve controlled compressed air conduits provide `a passageway to divert compressed air between the piston and a spray forming mixing chamber adjoining the grease outlet from the vessel.

-man Backgroztnd of the invention Prior to this invention spray guns have been developed which are suitable for spraying watery or oily liuids such as paints. However, when the viscosity of such iluids is sufficiently high that the substance is categorized as a grease, then such spray guns are no longer satisfactory because the grease will not break into droplets to form a spray.

Thus, in using silicone greases to coat electrical equipment instead of spraying the grease it is the normal practice of utility company workmen to smear the grease on the electrical equipment by hand. Otten, such equipment is electrically energized so that, in order to prevent electrocuting the workman, the associated electrical circuits must be shut off. This involves a great loss of time and money as well as substantial inconvenience t0 the users of such electrical equipment. Nevertheless, to prevent short circuits in the equipment, coating with silicone grease is needed and since this coating gradually is worn oil it must be periodically replaced.

Summary of the invention Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a means for spraying grease so as to thereby alleviate the inethciency and inconvenience of manual methods 0f application.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means for spraying grease which utilizes a compressed air blast to break a small portion of grease into droplets which are sprayed.

A still further obg'ect of this invention is to provide apparatus for spraying grease which includes a conduit through which compressed air is received and diverted between a grease containing vessel where the air causes grease to be forced therefrom into a mixing chamber and an outlet line which communicates with the mixing cham ber and sprays grease contained therein.

Brief description of the dranfings FIGURE l is a vertically sectioned view of a spray grease gun in accordance with this invention showing the grease reservoir, interconnected air conduits and spray outlet nozzle.

FIGURE 2 is a partly horizontal, sectioned, top plan view taken through 2-2 in FlGURE l showing the nozzle used in the apparatus.

FGURE 3 is a vertically sectioned view of the nozzle taken through 3 3 in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmented, vertically sectioned view of the grease gun as in FIGURE l during a grease spraying operation.

3,3li,829 Patented July 9, 1968 Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings a grease spray gun in accordancc with this invention includes a vessel or reservoir 1t? within which grease is stored and a bypass conduit line 2li which receives compressed air, communicates with the reservoir l@ and provides the passageway through which compressed air sprays grease ejected therefrom out a nozzle 39. Since ordinarily this spray gun is to be used around high voltage electricity the apparatus is preferably made of electrically nonconductive material such as an epoxy resin or polyethylene plastic reinforced with ber glass or asbestos.

The reservoir 16 is a cylindrical pressure vessel formed with a ilat circular bottom plate 16a which has a centrally positioned circular air inlet opening 10b passing therethrough. A flat circular lid 10c is removably mounted on the top of reservoir 1t) by quick-release bolts 10d which are attached to the upper sides of reservoir 10 and pass through complementary holes in lid 10c to which they are secured by nuts 10e. Extending centrally through lid 19C is a circular grease outlet opening 10j which is preferably partly internally threaded and shaped .as a truncated cone which extends through a cylindrical outlet tube 16g protruding outwardly and upwardly from lid 16C.

Movably disposed and axially aligned in the bottom of the reservoir 10 is a circular, plate-shaped piston 12 which is slightly smaller than the internal circumference of reservoir 10. Circumferentially fitted in an annular slot in the periphery of piston 12 is a piston ring 12a which ts tightly enough within reservoir 12 to minimize air leakage but will still slide vertically relative to the abutting internal walls 12b of reservoir 10 which, in effect, will serve as a cylinder for piston 12. The piston ring 12a can be a leather gasket or made of a material ordinarily used in O rings.

To facilitate sliding of piston 12 the lower internal walls 12b of the reservoir 10 may be lubricated or the piston ring 12a can be made of a slippery material such as Teilen. The piston 12 is moved axially in reservoir 10 in response to air pressure variations primarily caused by air entering through opening 10b in bottom plate 10a.

Supported above the piston 12 within reservoir 10 is a supply of grease 14 normally contained within an enclosed collapsible receptacle 16. If the grease 14 is not in a receptacle 16 then additional gaskets (not shown) should be secured within the reservoir l() so as to eliminate leakage.

However, as shown, the collapsible receptacle 16 is formed of a llexible material which, when pressed by piston 12 as in FIGURE 4, squirts grease 14 contained therein through outlet ltlf like a tube of toothpaste. This receptacle 16 is formed with a round flat base 16a, slightly inwardly tapering annular walls 16]; and upwardly and inwardly tapering annular top shoulders 16e which centrally terminate at a circular grease outlet 16d which axially protrudes from the top of receptacle 16. This grease outlet 16d is shaped externally as a partly threaded truncated cone which mates with the outlet opening 10f in reservoir 1li within which it is threadably secured.

The grease 14 contained within receptacle 16, when coating electrical insulators, for instance, is preferably of the silicone type. That is, one or more carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain have been replaced by silicone atoms. Examples of such grease are Insul-Jel made by General Electric Co., and the Dow-Corning Silicone] el No. 3 and No. 5. These greases can be obtained in a collapsible receptacle 16 such as illustrated herein.

The conduit line 20 is connected to a source of compressed air (not shown) which is normally dehydrated to prevent the possibility of short circuiting high voltage electricity therethrough. As the compressed air passes through conduit line 2li adjacent to reservoir 1t! a portion of the air may be diverted thereto by a reservoir branch line 20a from conduit line 20 which communicates with reservoir through its inlet opening ltlb. Another portion of conduit line forms the bypass line 2Gb which communicates with the outlet tube 10g from the `reservoir 10 to mix air with grease 14 ejected therefrom. This juncture of bypass line 2Gb with outlet tube 10g provides a mixing chamber 29C for the grease and a stream of cornpressed air which, when formed into appropriate size droplets, is'sprayed therefrom through a conduit outlet A flat fan-shaped nozzle 3G is attached via a universally articulated movable pipe joint 32 to the conduit outlet 20d. This pipe joint 32 is externally threaded on each end and screwed into complementarily internally threaded portions, respectively, of conduit outlet 20d and nozzle inlet 30a. Diverging outwardly from the inlet 36a are the spaced fan-shaped walls 30h and 30C, of the nozzle 30 shown. 'I'he outlet from nozzle 36 is through its shallow, arc-shaped orifice 30d which includes a plurality of'V spaced parallel wires 39e mounted across the orifice 39a. The purpose of this preferred form of nozzle shown is to spread the grease spray through the fan-shaped portion and slow its velocity when it passes the parallel wire barriers so as to facilitate the ow of grease over the surface to which it is being applied. However, other forms of nozzles could be used with this invention though probably With some detriment to the eiciency of the device.

In order to control the relative amount of compressed air which is diverted throughv conduit line 20 between its reservoir branch line 20a and bypass line 2Gb a coneshaped reservoir valve 34 and a cone-shaped spray valve 36, respectively, are interposed in these lines. Each of the valves 34 and 36 are externally threaded and movably mounted in complementarily internally valve seats 34a yand 36a protruding from elbow bends in lines 20a and 20h, respectively. When the valves 34 and 36 are adjusted to protrude into these respective portions of conduit line 20 to the extent desired, slotted, externally threaded, lock nuts 34h and 36o are screwed tight against them through open, complementarily internally threaded extensions of valve seats 34a and 36a. Each of the valves 34 and 36 is so mounted that it can be screwed into the conduit line 20 to such an extent that it completely blocks it or is moved therefrom to clear the line entirely from a iow blocking position.

At the juncture of the bypass line 20b and the outlet tube 10g a cone-shaped mixing valve 38 projects into this line 20b and can be moved through it into the adjacent mixing chamber 20c. It is mounted for axial movement in an open mixing valve seat 38a which is axially aligned with outlet tube 10g on the opposite side of the bypass line 2Gb. The mixing valve 38 is formed with a coneshaped head 38b connected by a reduced diameter intermediate shank 38C to an externally threaded end portion 38d provided with an adjusting slot 38e in its outer face.

The externally threaded end portion 38d of valve 38 is screwed into a complementary internally threaded portion of mixing valve seat 38a which extends therein suiciently that the cone-shaped head 38b of valve 33 can be slid into a predetermined position within mixing chamber 20c. The largest outer diameter of the cone-shaped head 38h is approximately the diameter of the mixture chamber 20 at its juncture with bypass line 2Gb so that it is capable of blocking grease ejected from reservoir 10 completely if desired. At the same time air flowing through bypass line 20h will not be blocked by valve 38 since there will still be room for it to flow around the reduced diameter shank 38e. Normally, however, the cone-shaped head 38b of valve 3S will project into mixing chamber 20c just far enough to cause the grease to be sprayed in the predetermined optimum size of droplets.

In operation, dehydrated compressed air normally enters conduit line 20 and is diverted between reservoir branch line 20a and bypass line 2Gb. The relative amount of diversion is controlled by adjusting the protrusion of valves 34 and 35 into these respective lines so that there is just enough air pressure in reservoir line 20a to gradually lift piston 12 so that it presses against the bottom of the receptacle base 16a and a steady ow of grease 14 is ejected from receptacle 16 through grease outlet 16a'. This grease enters into mixing chamber 20c where it is fragmented into droplets and sprayed through nozzle 30 by a blast of air flowing through line Ztib.

The receptacle 16 is squeezed as shown in FIGURE 4 when piston'lZ is raised and, when empty, is -removed from reservoir 10 -by disengaging lid 10c and unscrewing it from within outlet opening 10j. Another receptacle 16 is replaced in operative position by reversing this procedure. During the replacement operation the air pressure is normally shut off in conduit line 20.

YThe amount of mixing and consequent size of droplets in the spray is controlled by the amount that the head 38h of'valve 38 protrudes into mixing chamber 20c. When the desired consistency of the spray is attained valve 3S is normally preset in that position. In a like manner valves 34 and 36 are preset in position when the proper balance of air diversion is attained. The universal movement of joint 32 facilitates the spraying of the grease gun and the barriers on the fan-shaped nozzle 30 maximize the contact time and consequent grease deposited where wanted with the apparatus.

Though shown as a compact structure preferably using flexible hoses as the conduit lines the component parts could be separated when convenient to do so without altering the inventive principle implemented herein. That is, for instance, if a large quantity of grease is desired to be carried the reservoir 10 could be enlarged. However, since the weight of the grease would likely make the complete apparatus too heavy for convenient utilization the reservoir could be left on the ground and an elongated conduit extended to the nozzle 30 which would be the only part that a workman would need to carry.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details diS- closed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim:

1. A spray gun for a viscous uid such as grease comprising: a closed cylindrical pressure vessel reservoir formed with an air inlet in one end and a viscous fluid outlet in the opposite end with space between for viscous fluid to be carried, a piston slidably mounted for axial movement within said reservoir substantially continuously abutting the internal side walls of said reservoir and adapted to force viscous lluid contained in said reservoir out said outlet when suicient air pressure is introduced through the air inlet end thereof; a mixing chamber communicating with said outlet; a compressed air conduit adapted for connection to a source of compressed air and having outlet branches comprising a reservoir line communicating with the air inlet in said reservoir and a spray line communicating with said mixing chamber; a spreader type spray nozzle connected with said spray line past its point of communication with said mixing chamber; adjustable reservoir valve means in said reservoir line; adjustable spray valve means in said spray line; and adjustable mixing valve means for said mixing chamber 4to regulate the relative proportionv of viscous uid to air delivered to said spray nozzle. i

2. A spray gun for a viscous uid such as grease, comprising: a closed cylindrical pressure vessel reservoir Yformed with an air inlet in one end and a viscous uid outlet in the opposite end with space between for viscous uid to be carried, a piston slidably mounted for axial movement within said reservoir substantially continuously abutting the internal side walls of said reservoir, a body of viscous fluid packed between the piston and the viscous iluid outlet, the piston being adapted to force viscous iluid contained in said reservoir out said outlet when sufficient air pressure is introduced through the air inlet thereof; a mixing chamber communicating with said outlet; a compressed air conduit adapted for connection to a source of compressed air and having outlet branches comprising a reservoir line communicating with the air inlet in said reservoir and a spray line communicating with said mixing chamber; a spray nozzle connected with said spray line past its point of communication with said mixing chamber; adjustable reservoir valve means in said reservoir line; adjustable spray valve means in said spray line; and adjustable mixing valve means for said mixing chamber to regulate the relative proportion of viscous fluid to air delivered to said spray nozzle; whereby viscous fluid is delivered into said mixing chamber at a predetermined rate relative to air ilowing therethrough and is broken up into particles by the air and carried thereby at a given velocity into the spray nozzle; the spray nozzle embodying an outwardly ared configuration adapted to distribute air laden with viscous uid particles in a spread pattern and at a relatively reduced velocity.

3. A spray gun as deiined in claim 2 which includes a collapsible receptacle containing the viscous uid, said receptacle having an outlet communicating with the viscous uid outlet from said reservoir and having a base portion responsive to movement of the piston in said reservoir so that movement of said piston toward said last named outlet causes said receptacle to collapse and viscous uid to be delivered therefrom.

4. A spray gun as dened in claim 2 wherein the spray nozzle is fan-shaped and formed with a narrow, elongated outlet across which are interposed a plurality of spaced barrier rods to interrupt ow of air laden with viscous particles and further reduce the velocity thereof.

5. A spray gun as defined in claim 1 in which all externally exposed parts are formed of electrically nonconductive material whereby the gun may be safely used in the vicinity of charged electrical lines.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,505,798 5/1950 Skinner Z22-386.5 X 2,581,353 l/1952 Bonvillian et al. 239-592 X 2,618,510 lll/1952 Mills 239--313 X 3,225,759 12/1965 Drapen et al. Z39-313 X 3,292,630 12/1966 Paulus 239-552 X FOREIGN PATENTS 727,492 4/ 1955 Great Britain.

STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

